The Significance of the Forest 9 



Some of these lands have been known to yield as high as 

 $ 1.50 per annum net profits to the acre under forest, even 

 without care. Under proper management, this could be 

 doubled or trebled. The capital invested is next to 

 nothing and the labor expended is small. This, it is to 

 be remembered, is true of lands that will not pay any 

 net returns under usual agricultural crops, and it is true 

 of practically all such lands that are not swampy. 



Another example of doubtful land classification is the 

 jack-pine land of the Lake States. It will yield a small 

 but respectable yearly revenue under timber. Under 

 other farm crops the yields are so small as to make profits 

 doubtful. 



But even in such cases, the classification cannot be 

 more than temporary; and is often reversed by outside 

 influences. Some of the "hill lands" near the railroad 

 stations may show profits from usual agricultural crops, 

 while those farther away are no longer cultivated. Some 

 of the jack-pine land which can be fertilized and is properly 

 located may yield a large revenue in vegetables. A change 

 in the location of a railroad might upset the whole scheme. 



There are many sections — usually the poorer ones — 

 which consider it a disgrace to have any of their lands 

 classified as non-agricultural, or more strictly as non-cul- 

 tivable. They think that it gives the section a bad name, 

 that it will keep away settlers. This is a mistaken idea. 

 It would be much better frankly to divide the land into 

 classes and devote each class to its proper use. How much 

 better for the community is a thrifty forest yielding its 

 steady income, than a farm on which some poor man is 

 wearing away his very soul and growing poorer every year! 



